Fastening device



Apr-i3 w, 1938. H. J. MURPHY FASTENING DEVICE Y Filed Feb. 25, 1955 Patented Apr. 19, i938 stares 2d Mja@ narrar ortica FASTEMNG DEVICE Application February 23, 1935, Serial No. 7,715

Claims.

My invention relates to a novel fastening and locking device, especially though not exclusively designed to secure window screens against unauthorized opening from the outside.

In the drawing, which illustrates a preferred form of my invention:

Figure l is an elevational View of a part of a screen secured to a sash by means of a fastening device;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a View of the fastener in locked position taken from the side adjacent to the sash in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view of the fastener from the same side, showing the unlocked position;

Fig. 5 is a top View of the fastener as shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a bottom View of the fastener per se; and

Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 'l-l of Fig. 3.

The particular combination I have chosen to describe the nature and operation of my invention includes an upper window sash l, a window screen 2, and a fastening device generally designated by the numeral 3. Both screen and sash are shown in. their fully closed positions, and, for purposes of description, the sash is presumed to be stationary and the screen is intended to be down against the sill (not shown). Thus the only possible movement of the screen is upward, and movement in this direction is prevented by the fastening device 3. This particular fastener comprises a plate part t having a projection 5 engaging the lower edge of the sash, and a latch member 6 engaging the upper edge of the screen 2. Thus the screen cannot be raised from the outside without the use of some tool to mutilate the latch member.

Referring to the fastening device itself, I have shown (Figs. 3 to 7) a very simple fastener having but two parts. The plate member i is preferably formed from sheet metal and may be of any desired size and shape to lit a particular window and screen. At the bottom of the plate d is a sash-engaging member 5 of triangular shape formed integral with the plate 4 and extending away therefrom at substantially a right angle. To give this projection the necessary rigidity, I have formed anges 8 along its sides. These flanges are wider at the apex of the triangular portion than they are adjacent to the plate member, and a notch 9 is formed at the apex of the member 6, the purpose of which will be more fully described hereinafter.

The locking member 6 is preferably formed from strong spring wire and is substantially of the shape shown in Fig. '7. It may be mounted for axial rotation on the` plate i by any suitable means. To make the Whole structure as thin` as possible, I prefer to form a channel for the member 6 by drawing the material of the plate into grooves as at lil in Fig. 7, and drawing the material between the grooves it into a groove extending in the other direction as at il. By connecting these several grooves with suitable apertures a channel is formed which will carry the member 6 without greatly increasing the thickness of the plate.

The latch member 5 has a manipulating handle 6a which is bent so that in normal position it lies close to the narrow end of one of the flanges 8, as in Fig. 4.v Thus when the handle is moved toward the position shown in Fig. 3, it will ride over the flange 8 and snap into the notch 9, from which it can be disengaged only by a downward push on the handle. This makes it impossible to turn the latch member from the ouside. The movement of the handle Ea may be further limited by forming ears l2 at the base of the p-late to prevent the handle and latch member 6 from passing by the point where they lie in the plane of the plate i (Fig. 4).

One example of the way in which this fastening device may be used will serve to make clear the operation of my invention. The handle is first turned into the position shown in Fig. 4, i. e.,

the unlocked position in which the latch member ii and the handle are substantially in the plane of the plate. The fastener is then inserted between the upper sash and the frame of the screen so that the projection 5 abuts the lower edge of the sash. Then the handle is moved into the notch 9, bringing the latch member 6 into locking position as shown in Fig. 2.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred form of my invention, I do not wish to be limited thereby, as the scope of my invention is best defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described comprising a plate portion, an integral projection extending from one end of said plate at substantially right angles thereto, said plate having a channel extending vfor a part of the distance between the ends thereof and apertures at the ends of said channel, a locking member of substantially uniform cross-section having a portion of its length located in said channel and extending through said apertures, said locking member being axially rotatable in said channel and having one end bent substantially at right angles to the main part thereof, whereby said end is movable from a position in the plane of said plate to a position at an angle thereto for cooperating with the projection on the plate as described and stop means integral with said device and disposed on the other side of the plane of said projection from said plate, said means adapted to engage said end of said locking member for limiting rotatable movement thereof.

2. A device of the class described comprising a plate portion, an integral projection extending from one end of said plate at substantially right angles thereto, said plate having a channel extending for a part of the distance between the ends thereof and apertures at the ends of said channel, a locking member of substantially uniform cross-section having a portion of its length located in said channel and extending through said apertures, said locking member being axially rotatable in said channel and having one end bent substantially at right angles to the main part thereof and the other end bent at substantially a right angle in the opposite direction and extending beyond the projection on said plate whereby it may be manipulated to move the irst end for the purpose described and ear-shaped el ements integral with said plate and disposed on the other side of the plane of said projection from said plate thereby acting as a means for limiting rotatable movement of said last mentioned end of said locking member.

3. A device of the class described comprising a plate portion, an integral projection extending from one end of said plate on one side only of said plate at substantially right angles thereto, said plate having a channel extending for a part of the distance between the ends thereof and apertures at the ends of said channel, a locking member of substantially uniform cross-section having a portion of its length located in said channel and extending through said apertures, said locking member being axially rotatable in said channel and having one end bent substantially at right angles to the main part thereof and the other end bent at substantially a right angle in the opposite direction and extending beyond the projection to move the first end into locking position at an angle to the plane of said plate, and a detent provided by said projection adapted to engage the adjacent end of said locking member to prevent rotation thereof from the locking end.

4. A device of the class described comprising a plate part, a laterally-projecting means near one end of said plate, said laterally-projecting means extending from one side only of said plate, and a locking member to secure another member against movement in one direction relative to the support, said locking member being movably attached to said plate and having a part operable to extend away from said plate for cooperating with said laterally-projecting means, and said laterally-projecting means having means for engagement with said locking member to prevent unintentional movement of said locking member.

5. A device of the class described comprising a relatively fiat rigid plate portion, an integral laterally-projecting portion at one end of said plate, said laterally-projecting portion extending from one side only of said plate, a locking member retatably secured to said plate and disposed longitudinally thereof, said locking member having a portion extending at a right angle to the axis thereof and movable from a position in the plane of said plate to a position angularly disposed to the plane thereof, and said laterally-projecting portion having a notch for receiving said locking member to prevent unintentional movement thereof.

HOWARD J. MURPHY. 

